The visit has nothing to do with the panchayat polls in the state next month, said Congress sources. The Congress holds most of the Zila Parishad seats in Malda and Murshidabad districts.

With Lok Sabha elections scheduled for next year, panchayat polls are crucial in the Left-ruled state where the Marxists dominate most of the zila parishads and panchayats with a strong hold in the countryside.

Sonia is likely to visit the residence of former Malda strongman ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury at Kolwali to pay respect to the departed leader.